Klein's Phillies records appear untouchable
Records are made to be broken. True. But there are some records that are unbreakable. Hall of Fame outfielder Chuck Klein put up some big Phillies single-season numbers 87 years ago. Nobody has come close to these five records.
Critics say Klein's numbers are tainted because, as a left-handed hitter, his home games were played in Baker Bowl, where the distance to the right-field foul pole was 272 feet. Regardless, they are heavy numbers -- all in the same season. Here's a look at his records, one by one:
• Phillies alumni
Runs
158, 1930 (National League record).
Doubles
59, 1930. Klein also hit 50 in '32. Since then, the most by a Phillies hitter is 50, by Bobby Abreu in 2002.
Extra-base hits
107, 1930 (tied for NL record). Klein's 107 ('30), 103 ('32) and 94 ('29) occupy the top three places on the Phillies' all-time list. In fourth is Jimmy Rollins with 88, (2007).
Total bases
445, 1930. Klein again holds the top three slots in the same sequence of seasons, 445-429-405. Lefty D'Doul is fourth with 397 ('29). Next is Ryan Howard with 383 (2006).
RBIs
170, 1930. Howard's 149 (2006) are the next highest total.
Charles Herbert Klein was a 1923 graduate of Southport High School in Indianapolis. He worked in a steel mill for three years and started playing semi-pro baseball. Five years later, his professional baseball career began in the Minor Leagues. During the 1928 Minor League season (88 games, .331 average, 26 home runs), the Phillies purchased his contract from Fort Wayne for $5,500, out-biding the New York Yankees.
Klein played for Phillies in 1928-33, '36-39, '40-44, including player-coach, '42-45. He wore seven different numbers with Phillies -- 1, 3, 8, 26, 29, 32, 36. He also played for the Cubs and Pirates. He was inducted posthumously into the Baseball Hall of Fame and Phillies Wall of Fame in 1980.